He boldly packed up my mother, my two sisters and hit the road to Los Angeles. They fell in love with the mountains, the deserts, the ocean, the cool summer evenings and the freedom to create a whole new life.

I was the one born here, and once while visiting relatives in Baltimore many years ago, I was looked upon as an oddity: "Oh, you were the one born in California?" as if it were outer space. I would nod my head yes, and tell them I am very proud of being a native Californian. Thanks, Dad, for your California dreamin'.